ROCHESTER — Police say Karen Pollard was acquainted with the pedestrian who was struck by the vehicle her husband was driving on Dec. 29. Leslie Pollard has been charged with driving while intoxicated and felony conduct after an accident in connection with the incident.

Karen, one of two deputy city managers, was reportedly a passenger in the Ford Taurus her husband was operating when the vehicle struck a Rochester woman who was walking on Lowell Street.

Police say Leslie Pollard fled the scene after striking the woman, and when the couple returned to their Hemlock Street home, Karen called 911 at Leslie's request stating her husband “may have hit something,” according to a police affidavit.

The pedestrian, who suffered a broken collarbone in the accident, had been at Club Victoire with the Pollards the night of the accident, according to Police Capt. Paul Toussaint. He said the pedestrian and the Pollards were at the club together during at least some portion of the evening before the accident.

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Leslie Pollard

On Tuesday, Karen is scheduled to appear for a court hearing in relation to the case against her husband. As part of their investigation, police executed a search warrant for Karen's city-owned cell phone because they believe the phone may contain evidence in the case.

But Karen so far has refused to provide police with the password to access the phone, and police can't access the device. The state has made a motion to compel Karen to disclose the password, and a hearing on the issue is scheduled for Tuesday.

According to the state's motion to compel, “Karen Pollard is obstructing the execution of a lawfully obtained search warrant.”

When asked about Karen's decision not to disclose the password, Karen's attorney, Jim Rosenberg, stated Friday that Karen sought legal advice before making important legal decisions. He gave no comment on why she would not disclose the passcode, but Rosenberg did state Karen is interested in working cooperatively with city officials and the county attorney's office in regard to the investigation.

Toussaint said Friday the investigation is being conducted by Rochester police and not the county's attorney's office. He said police see no conflict of interest regarding the case against Leslie, and that police can conduct a “fair and impartial investigation” into his and Karen's activities despite Karen being a city employee.

Prosecution of the case is being handled by the Strafford County Attorney's Office because Leslie Pollard is facing a felony-level charge, said Toussaint.

City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick could not be reached for comment Friday regarding the city's position in the case, or Karen's employment status.

When asked about any potential future charges against Karen, Toussaint said police have no probable cause at this time to charge her with obstructing an investigation.

Police applied for a search warrant for Karen's work phone on Jan. 6, after police learned she sent text messages to Police Chief Michael Allen asking for help.

According to Police Detective Kenneth Tapscott's affidavit, which was used to support the search warrant for the phone, Karen sent messages to Allen asking for help while police officers were conducting their investigation at her home, and twice after her husband was arrested.